Projo Bruins Blog

By MARK DIVVER
Assistant Sports Editor

PROVIDENCE -- Nothing in Andy Wozniewski's resume over five pro seasons suggests that he's a big scorer.

A dependable, two-way defenseman, yes.

A player with size, reach and skating ability. A guy who can run a power play in the American Hockey League.

And, with 77 games of NHL experience in Toronto and St. Louis, someone who can fill in on the third defense pairing in Boston if injuries strike.

But not a player who is capable of averaging two points per game. After all, his career high is 17 points in a season.

Yet, heading into Saturday's games, Wozniewski was the AHL's leading scorer with 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points in 7 games.

"It hasn't been a fluke,'' said P-Bruins coach Rob Murray. "He's played very well. He's probably been our most consistent player overall, offensively and defensively. He bought into the idea that we want our D to join the play.

"I don't know how he played before coming here, but you can almost see him saying, 'All right, I can jump into the play.' He's taking advantage of it.''

"The game's changing towards the defensemen . . . being the fourth man (in the attack),'' said Wozniewski, who is 6'5'' and 225 pounds. "The last few years, I've played more defensive hockey. (This season) I've been getting my opportunities and jumping at the right time.''

While 10 of Wozniewski's points have come on the power play, Murray and assistant coach Butch Cassidy depend on him in all situations.

"He's got a good long reach on the penalty kill, and he's a smart player. That's one of the things I'm finding with him,'' said Murray. "His hockey intellect is high. He grasps what needs to be done and what we're asking him to do.''

Except for one game with the Blues, the 29-year-old former University of Wisconsin defenseman spent all of last season in Peoria and Wilkes-Barre / Scranton of the AHL. He signed a two-way contract with Boston just days before training camp started in September that pays him $105,000 in the AHL and $600,000 in the NHL.

"It was really late,'' he said. "I went over it and took a long time, and I decided on what team and what situation I wanted to be in, and Boston was the right fit.''

A chance to get back to the NHL is one reason Wozniewski chose the Bruins. "Obviously, that's my goal. That's why you play is to try and play in the NHL. I've been there, and I definitely want to be back there,'' he said.

Only three weeks into the season, it's not too early to compare Wozniewski to Johnny Boychuk. Boychuk had a career year last season, winning the Eddie Shore Award winner as the AHL's best defenseman and sharing the team scoring lead with Martin St. Pierre. It earned Boychuk an NHL contract with Boston."

"He's doing what Johnny did last year,'' said Murray.


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Shortly before the pregame warmup Friday night, Dany Sabourin poked his head into Murray's office and said that his wife had gone into labor.

While Sabourin rushed to the hospital, Murray started searching for a backup goalie.

"I had to scramble,'' Murray said.

Murray called Paulo Deroxas of Warwick, the netminder on Murray's summer men's league team. Deroxas was able to get to the Dunkin Donuts Center and suit up by gametime.

The Sabourins had a baby girl early on Saturday morning, and Dany was expected to be in uniform Saturday night in Manchester.

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Three forwards who are playing significant minutes for Providence -- Zach Hamill, Jamie Arniel and Drew Larman -- still had not scored a goal going into Saturday night's game.

Hamill, 21, and Arniel, 19, are youngsters still trying to find their way in the pro game. But Larman, 24, has over 200 games of AHL experience as well as 22 games in the NHL.

A free-agent pickup from the Florida organization, Larman has never scored more than 17 goals in an AHL season.

Murray is not worried about Larman's lack of offensive production.

"It probably concerns him more than it concerns me. He's doing what I'm asking him to do as a checking centerman,'' said Murray. "For the most part, that line (Larman, Guillaume Lefebvre and Kirk MacDonald) has got the job done against the other team's top line.''

Larman "doesn't have outstanding touch around the net, but he's gonna score some goals. . . . I've really liked his game otherwise. Losing (Brad) Marchand and (Vladimir) Sobotka, you're going to have to hope that on certain nights he becomes the guy that gets that goal for you. He's getting his chances, so it'll come.''

 Tags  Boston Bruins Providence Bruins

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